L.C.C. Pothole plan...
Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2018 2:56 am
I saw this article on the BBC Regional News website this morning and meant to post it, but a combination of our win at WBA and some old friends popping round unexpectedly led me to forget....
" County Council's Innovative Pot-Hole Roads solution "
Government Departments are not usually noted for their rapid action, but when quick witted Officials at Lancashire County Council's Highways Department heard of a surplus of Tarmac at crisis ridden Northamptonshire C.C. , they were immediately on the case.
L.C.C. leader Geoff Driver, takes up the tale... " About ten days ago, we were made aware of an unforeseen budget surplus in our Highways Budget, due to a cancelled contract. Earlier this week, we heard that Northamptonshire C.C. had a huge amount of Tarmac they were unable to use, because the Local Government Commissioners had prioritised other " Statutory Services " instead. By moving quickly, we arranged for most of their Tarmac to be transported to 7 different Depots in Lancashire ! We were still left with the problem of using that Tarmac before the 5th April, the Financial year end, otherwise our surplus would, by law, be returned to the Treasury. The other obstacle we needed to overcome was that we need the Borough Council's approval to close roads even for a short period, which normally would take weeks to co-ordinate. Luckily, one of our legal Team found a loophole in the Local Govt. Act of 1895 ( Article.26 ( Sub-Section 7 - Amended 1951 ). I understand this was originally intended to allow road closures for Easter Church Parades but we've been able to use it to close roads to allow the pot-holes to be filled "
BBC Radio Lancashire understands that Lancashire County Council, in conjunction with the Unions, have arranged to have their full complement of Highway repair teams available on both Sunday and Monday, together with 11 other teams, drafted in from neighbouring County Councils.
It's understood that Lancashire County Council are planning to release details of this tomorrow morning on various Social Media sites, inviting the public to turn up at their local Depot ( Burnley's is the old Lancashire Waterways Wharf, off Rosegrove Lane ) and provide details of unreported potholes for the teams to tackle.
Department of Transport Minister, John McAdam, praised the quick action of the County Council staff, " Lancashire are a shining light of how to solve a practical problem with quick thinking and teamwork....other Councils would do well to follow their example "
Labour's Shadow Transport spokes-person, has been participating in a five day LBGT Cycling Charity fundraiser between Hebden Bridge and Brighton, and was unavailable for comment.
" County Council's Innovative Pot-Hole Roads solution "
Government Departments are not usually noted for their rapid action, but when quick witted Officials at Lancashire County Council's Highways Department heard of a surplus of Tarmac at crisis ridden Northamptonshire C.C. , they were immediately on the case.
L.C.C. leader Geoff Driver, takes up the tale... " About ten days ago, we were made aware of an unforeseen budget surplus in our Highways Budget, due to a cancelled contract. Earlier this week, we heard that Northamptonshire C.C. had a huge amount of Tarmac they were unable to use, because the Local Government Commissioners had prioritised other " Statutory Services " instead. By moving quickly, we arranged for most of their Tarmac to be transported to 7 different Depots in Lancashire ! We were still left with the problem of using that Tarmac before the 5th April, the Financial year end, otherwise our surplus would, by law, be returned to the Treasury. The other obstacle we needed to overcome was that we need the Borough Council's approval to close roads even for a short period, which normally would take weeks to co-ordinate. Luckily, one of our legal Team found a loophole in the Local Govt. Act of 1895 ( Article.26 ( Sub-Section 7 - Amended 1951 ). I understand this was originally intended to allow road closures for Easter Church Parades but we've been able to use it to close roads to allow the pot-holes to be filled "
BBC Radio Lancashire understands that Lancashire County Council, in conjunction with the Unions, have arranged to have their full complement of Highway repair teams available on both Sunday and Monday, together with 11 other teams, drafted in from neighbouring County Councils.
It's understood that Lancashire County Council are planning to release details of this tomorrow morning on various Social Media sites, inviting the public to turn up at their local Depot ( Burnley's is the old Lancashire Waterways Wharf, off Rosegrove Lane ) and provide details of unreported potholes for the teams to tackle.
Department of Transport Minister, John McAdam, praised the quick action of the County Council staff, " Lancashire are a shining light of how to solve a practical problem with quick thinking and teamwork....other Councils would do well to follow their example "
Labour's Shadow Transport spokes-person, has been participating in a five day LBGT Cycling Charity fundraiser between Hebden Bridge and Brighton, and was unavailable for comment.
